在迷宫中成长——解读《拉里的家宴》中拉里的成长路

Growing Up in the Maze: An Analysis of the Growth of Larry in Larry's Party

在《拉里的家宴》中,卡罗尔·希尔兹用贯穿全书的"迷宫"意象喻指人生,描写了男主人公拉里对生命迷宫的探索和人生意义的追寻。对于拉里来说,人生犹如迷宫,探索这迷宫时人们经常迷失其中,却又在迷失中找到迷宫的中心和生命的真谛。拉里在生命迷宫中对自我、事业和爱情的探索,展现了他的成长之路。拉里的成长过程表明了希尔兹的人生观:生命迷宫的中心与出口固然难以轻易到达,但人生的意义就在于坚持探索,而这执着的探索就意味着成长。

In Larry＇ s Party, Carol Shields compares life to the maze whose image is found in every chapter and depicts how the protagonist Larry explores the maze of life and seeks for the meaning of it. To Larry life is a maze and the exploration of it, on the one hand, can make one lose himself; on the other hand, it also helps one to find the center of the maze as well as the true meaning of life. Larry＇ s growth based on the analysis of his exploration of the self, his career and love, although it is hard for one to arrive at the center and the exit of the maze of life, it is the persistent exploration that the meaning of life lies in, which indicates his growth.